Watercraft

ABSTRACT

A watercraft for use in a water sport in which the craft is propelled by a passenger paddling with his hands. The watercraft has a generally flat bottom and is symmetrical, such that the passenger may face either end of the watercraft while paddling. Two pairs of stabilizing indentations are formed in the flat bottom, one pair for receiving the passenger&#39;&#39;s knees while kneeling and facing one end and the other pair for receiving the passenger&#39;&#39;s knees while kneeling and facing the other end. When the watercraft is canoe shaped and has upturned ends, it may be equipped with floatation such that it is difficult to swamp and is self-uprighting when swamped. The floatation includes a pair of elongated floats projecting from and extending along the sides of the canoe above the normal waterline and float means positioned in the upturned ends of the canoe and vertically spaced above the bottom of the canoe.

United States Patent Simpson I 51 3,665,532 [451 May 30, 1972 54] WATERCRAFT [72] Inventor: Lawrence V. Simpson, 4110 Estateway [52] US. Cl. ..9/l R, 9/6 [51] Int. Cl ..B63b 35/00 [58] FieldofSearch ..9/1R,310R,3l0A-31OJ,

9/3,6,8R,1l R,14,301,311,2A,2R,2C,2F,2 S, 4 R, 5; l 14/0.5, 66.5 F, 0.5 F, 68, 69; 115/70; 46/91-93; 272/1 B, 32, 33 A Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-F. K. Yee Attorney0wen & Owen [57] ABSTRACT A watercraft for use in a water sport in which the craft is propelled by a passenger paddling with his hands. The watercraft has a generally flat bottom and is symmetrical, such that the passenger may face either end of the watercraft while paddling. Two pairs of stabilizing indentations are formed in the flat bottom, one pair for receiving the passengers knees while kneeling and facing one end and the other pair for receiving the passengers knees while kneeling and facing the other end. When the watercraft is canoe shaped and has upturned ends, it may be equipped with floatation such that it is difficult to swamp and is self-uprighting when swamped. The floatation includes a pair of elongated floats projecting from and extending along the sides of the canoe above the normal waterline and float means positioned in the upturned ends of the canoe and vertically spaced above the bottom of the canoe.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEnmao m2 3. 665,532 sum 1 ur a LAWRENCE kfim' s'alv, INVENTOR.

0% mar WATERCRAFT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to watercraft and more particularly to a stabilized watercraft for use in a water sport and which is propelled by a passenger paddling with his hands.

Various types of water games and water sports have been developed in the past. In one novel water sport, the members or players on two teams are each positioned in separate watercraft, such as separate canoes. The players, in accordance with a set of rules, chase after a buoyant ball, which each team tries to throw at its opponents goal. In a preferred form of the game, each player kneels in a canoe which the player paddles with his hands. The players wear webbed gloves, such as the gloves shown in Bowman US. Pat. No. 1,014,939 and in Rademacher US. Pat. No. 3,257,673, to facilitate in paddling the canoe and in grasping the ball. However, conventional small watercraft such as canoes and surfboards have not been entirely satisfactory for use in playing this and similar water sports. When the canoe is reduced to a seize which is readily managed by a single player paddling with his hands, it is relatively unstable. Therefore the player must kneel in the canoe for stability and to place the player near the water for paddling. Placement of the players knees is important for achieving a proper balance, control and a maximum speed with the canoe. However, proper knee placement may be overlooked by a player in the heat of the game, resulting in a swamped canoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the instant invention, an improved watercraft is provided for holding individual passengers while playing a water sport. The improved watercraft, which preferably takes the form of either a canoe or a surfboard, is provided with at least one and preferably two pairs of indentations in the bottom for receiving the passengers knees. In a preferred embodiment, the watercraft is symmetrical such that it may be paddled while the passenger faces in either direction. One pair of the indentations are positioned toward a first end of the watercraft for receiving the passengers knees when he faces a second end of the watercraft, while the other pair of indentations are positioned toward the second end of the watercraft for receiving the passengers knees when he faces the first end. The two indentations in each pair are spaced apart sufficiently to aid the passenger in balancing the watercraft.

When the watercraft is in the form ofa canoe, novel floatation is provided for preventing the canoe from swamping and for maintaining the canoe upright when swamped. The novel floatation comprises two elongated floats, one extending along and projecting from each side of the canoe above the waterline of the canoe when loaded, and float chambers positioned in each end of the canoe. If an off-centered force tips the canoe, one of the elongated floats will become submerged, resisting the tipping force and tending to upright the canoe. The two floats will function together in a similar manner to reduce excessive rocking of the canoe. The floatation chambers, which may be either sealed or unsealed and filled with a buoyant material, are positioned in upturned ends of the canoe and are preferably spaced above the elongated floats. When the canoe is swamped, the floatation chambers cooperate with the two elongated floats for uprighting the canoe and for maintaining the swamped canoe in an upright position.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the invention to provide an improved watercraft for use in water sports and which is intended to be propelled by a passenger paddling with his hands.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for aiding a kneeling passenger in a watercraft in stabilizing the watercraft.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved floatation for preventing a watercraft from swamping and for uprighting the watercraft when swamped.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a canoe constructed in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a canoe constructed in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in perspective, showing a portion of the gunwale along the side of the canoe;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view, in perspective, of an end of a canoe according to the instant invention;v

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view, in perspective of a portion of a side of the canoe of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a surfboard constructed in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a surfboard constructed in accordance with the instant invention; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, an improved watercraft 10 is shown according to the instant invention. In a preferred form, the watercraft 10 has an elongated body 11 which is generally U-shaped in cross section, similar to a conventional canoe. The body 11 of the canoe 10 is preferably formed from a relatively thin, lightweight, easily shaped material such as aluminum, glass fiber reinforced resin, or other conventional materials used for forming boat hulls or bodies. Since the canoe 10 is intended to hold a single passenger and to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, the body 11 is relatively short, for example, 6 to 10 feet long. Although the watercraft 10 is shown with a specific hull or body shape, it is to be understood that other shapes may be used without departing from the instant invention.

The canoe body 11 has an elongated and generally flat bottom 12 which tapers into opposed end portions 13 and 14. The bottom 12 curves upwardly into integral side portions 15 which terminate at gunwales 16. The gunwales 16 extend along the sides 15 of the canoe l0 and are generally parallel to a waterline 17, except adjacent the canoe ends 13 and 14. Adjacent each end 13 and 14 of the canoe 10, the side portions 15 and the gunwales 16 curve upwardly, extending above the height of the gunwales 16 at the center of the canoe 10. A center thwart 18 extends between opposed gunwales 16 at the center of the canoe 10. The gunwales 16 and the center thwart 18 structurally strengthen the canoe 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the gunwales 16 are tubular shaped and are preferably constructed from a sheet of material folded over the upper edges of the canoe sides 15. The gunwales 16 are connected to the sides 15 by welding, by riveting, by an adhesive, or by other suitable means.

When paddling the canoe 10 with his hands, the passenger is required to kneel, placing himself as close as possible to the waterline 17. It is important that the passenger kneels at a predetermined location for proper stability, balance and control of the canoe 10. Furthermore, it is critical that the passenger maintain his knees spaced apart to distribute his weight equally on opposite sides of the canoe bottom 12. To aid the passenger in the proper placement of his knees while propelling the canoe 10, two pairs of indentations 20 and 21 are formed in the canoe bottom 12. The pair of indentations 20 is spaced off center toward a first canoe end 13 for receiving the passengers knees while he faces the second canoe end 14, and the other pair of indentations 21 is positioned toward the second canoe end 14 for receiving the passengers knees when he faces the first canoe end 13. The indentations 20 and 21 are generally pear shaped to conform to the passengers knees; each indentation has an enlarged semi-spherical portion 22 toward the center of the canoe 10 which tapers upwardly to a small end 23. For the passengers comfort, the indentations 20 and 21 may be padded to protect his knees. A keel 24 is formed in-and projects below the canoe bottom 12 to extend between the two indentations in each pair of indentations 20 and 21. The keel 24 aids in controlling the canoe 10 by reducing sideslip.

The canoe 10 is further stabilized by means of a novel floatation system. Elongated floats 25 extend along and project from the canoe sides 15. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the floats 24 are integrally formed in the sides 15 at a position between the waterline 17 of the canoe when loaded and the gunwales 16. If the weight of the passenger is not centered such that the canoe 10 tips, the projecting float 25 is forced under water to counteract the tipping force. Covers 26 are attached to the inside of each side over the floats to define elongated, buoyant float chambers 27 with the floats 25. The chambers 27 are preferably sealed and filled with a buoyant material such as an expanded plastic. However, the chambers 27 may also be merely gas filled or be unsealed and filled with a suitable buoyant material without impairing their floatation properties. The covers 26 are attached to the sides 15 of the canoe 10 by any suitable means, such as by welding or with an adhesive.

Although the elongated floats 25 are sufficient alone for maintaining the canoe 10 afloat, when swamped, additional buoyant or float means 28 are positioned in the canoe ends 13 and 14. The float means 28, which may for example comprise either a sealed air chamber or a shaped block of expanded plastic, are spaced above the canoe bottom 12 and are preferably aligned with or vertically spaced above the height of the elongated floats 25. Should the canoe 10 become swamped and overturned, the float means 28 function in cooperation with the elongated floats 25 to upright the canoe 10. The float means 28 and the elongated floats 25 provide sufficient buoyancy for maintaining the swamped canoe 10 and one or more passengers afloat, greatly reducing any hazard of the passenger drowning.

Turning now to FIGS. 7-9, a modified embodiment of the invention is shown wherein the watercraft takes the form of a surfboard 30. The surfboard 30 has an elongated, generally flat body 31 which tapers toward opposed ends 32 and 33. The body 31 is either hollow or formed of a buoyant material such that it will float and support a passenger. Two pairs ofindentations 34 and 35, similar to the indentations 20 and 21 in the canoe shown in FIGS. 1-6, are formed in an upper surface 36 of the surfboard 30. The pair of indentations 34 are spaced toward the surfboard end 32 for receiving the knees of the passenger while he is kneeling and facing the surfboard end 33. Similarly, the indentations are spaced toward the end 33 for receiving the knees of the passenger while he is kneeling and faces the first end 32. Each of the indentations in the two pairs of indentations 34 and 35 may be padded to protect the passengers knees while he propels the surfboard 30. The surfboard 30 is also provided with a pair of drift boards 37 which aid the passenger in controlling the surfboard 30. The drift boards 37 are mounted adjacent the center of parallel, opposed edges 38 of the body 31 to project downwardly into the water. The drift boards 37 are preferably formed of a buoyant material to provide additional buoyant force along the edges 38, thereby aiding to prevent the drift board 37 from tipping.

It will be appreciated that various modifications and changes may be made in the above described watercraft, and in particular in the design of the body or hull for the watercraft, without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What 1 claim is:

1. A watercraft for carrying a passenger and which is propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, comprising an elongated body having a symmetrical bottom, a first air of indentations in the upper surface of said bottom, said indentations being positioned toward one end of said bottom and adapted to receive the knees of the passenger when he is kneeling and facing the other end ofsaid bottom, and a second pair of indentations in the upper surface of said bottom, said second indentations being positioned toward said other end of said bottom and adapted to receive the knees of the passenger when he is kneeling and facing said one end of said bottom, whereby the passenger may propel the watercraft while facing either end of the watercraft and kneeling in one of said pairs of indentations for stability.

2. A watercraft for carrying a passenger and which is propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 1, and including means in each of said indentations for padding said indentations to protect the knees of the passenger.

3. A watercraft for carrying a passenger and which is propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 1, wherein each ofsaid indentations projects from the lower surface of said bottom.

4. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, comprising an elongated canoe body including a bottom, first and second pairs of indentations formed in said bottom, said first indentations being positioned toward one end of said canoe and adapted to receive the knees of the passenger when he is kneeling and facing the other end of said canoe, said second indentations being positioned toward the other end of said canoe and adapted to receive the knees of the passenger when he is kneeling and facing the one end of said canoe, whereby the passenger may face either end of said canoe while propelling said canoe.

S. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 4, and including means padding each of said indentations to protect the knees of the passenger.

6. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 4, and including a keel formed in and extending along said bottom, said keel being positioned between the two indentations in each of said pairs of indentations.

7. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 4, wherein said elongated body includes two elongated sidewalls curved upwardly from said bottom, the portion of the sidewalls adjacent each end of said canoe extending above the portion of the sidewalls at the center of said canoe, two elongated floats, one float projecting from and extending along each sidewall adjacent the waterline ofsaid canoe to stabilize said canoe, and float means positioned in each end of said canoe and vertically spaced above said bottom for cooperating with said two floats to upright said canoe when swamped.

8. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 7, wherein float means are positioned between the portions of said sidewalls adjacent each end of said canoe which extends above the portion of said sidewalls at the center of said canoe.

9. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 7, wherein said float means are vertically spaced above said two elongated floats. 

1. A watercraft for carrying a passenger and which is propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, comprising an elongated body having a symmetrical bottom, a first pair of indentations in the upper surface of said bottom, said indentations being positioned toward one end of said bottom and adapted to receive the knees of the passenger when he is kneeling and facing the other end of said bottom, and a second pair of indentations in the upper surface of said bottom, said second indentations being positioned toward said other end of said bottom and adapted to receive the knees of the passenger when he is kneeling and facing said one end of said bottom, whereby the passenger may propel the watercraft while facing either end of the watercraft and kneeling in one of said pairs of indentations for stability.
 2. A watercraft for carrying a passenger and which is propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 1, and including means in each of said indentations for padding said indentations to protect the knees of the passenger.
 3. A watercraft for carrying a passenger and which is propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said indentations projects from the lower surface of said bottom.
 4. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, comprising an elongated canoe body including a bottom, first and second pairs of indentations formed in said bottom, said first indentations being positioned toward one end of said canoe and adapted to receive the knees of the passenger when he is kneeling and facing the other end of said canoe, said second indentations being positioned toward the other end of said canoe and adapted to receive the knees of the passenger when he is kneeling and facing the one end of said canoe, whereby the passenger may face either end of said canoe while propelling said canoe.
 5. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 4, and including means padding each of said indentations to protect the knees of the passenger.
 6. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 4, and including a keel formed in and extending along said bottom, said keel being positioned between the two indentations in each of said pairs of indentations.
 7. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling wiTh his hands, as defined in claim 4, wherein said elongated body includes two elongated sidewalls curved upwardly from said bottom, the portion of the sidewalls adjacent each end of said canoe extending above the portion of the sidewalls at the center of said canoe, two elongated floats, one float projecting from and extending along each sidewall adjacent the waterline of said canoe to stabilize said canoe, and float means positioned in each end of said canoe and vertically spaced above said bottom for cooperating with said two floats to upright said canoe when swamped.
 8. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 7, wherein float means are positioned between the portions of said sidewalls adjacent each end of said canoe which extends above the portion of said sidewalls at the center of said canoe.
 9. A canoe for carrying a passenger and adapted to be propelled by the passenger paddling with his hands, as defined in claim 7, wherein said float means are vertically spaced above said two elongated floats. 